Gugeletu

Hi everyone,Well, it's late Sunday evening and we've had what was unquestionably the most moving day of our lives.... I'm wiped out... no more tears are possible.The day began at the J.L. Zwane Presbyterian Church. We sang in the morning worship service, which Spiwo (the Senior Pastor) said, would be a "short service"..... it was nearly 2 hours long! BUT, it flew by. Once again, I don't really think I can capture this experience in mere words. How can I describe the congregational singing? Led by the choir, usually a single voice, then radiating out to the full choir, then the full congregation.... hundreds, all ages, in full harmony.... many dancing in the aisles, many adding remarkably ornate improvisations in complex rhythms that classically trained musicians can only dream of making. I don't recall how many congregational songs there were... many, for sure... but, the emotional impact was immense.

It was a cold morning.... I remember thinking that my hands had never been that cold while conducting.... But the choir was wonderful. All sang from their heart. Could I ask for more? No, I don't think so. Spiwo's sermon was remarkable.... a kind of personal testimony, full of thanksgiving for the relationship J.L. Zwane has with Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church. Any BMPC member who thinks that giving to mission is a mistake must re-think that position! We, who have so much, must give more.Another highlight of the service was the weekly testimony of someone who is fighting HIV. I can't say more..... other than the loving support that poured from the congregation before and after she spoke... in the form of song, of course.

After the service, several of us went to visit a young woman who was dying of AIDS. She lives in a small house with her sister (who was caring for the AIDS victim's baby) and another relative and her baby. It was clear that this poor woman didn't have long to live... we stood around her bed and sang "Amazing Grace." Her response was to close her eyes and cry while we sang... There was nothing we could have said, honestly.... we could only convey with our singing voices our love.With that experience we dashed back to the church to prepare for a 2 o'clock concert. This was in collaboration with Siyaya... a professional choir whose mission is to promote awareness of AIDS prevention. I was thrilled that they were able to learn the piece we commissioned: "Soweto: June 1976".... I rehearsed them for about 30 minutes, then off we flew for the concert. Siyaya opened.... oh gosh, they were beyond words.... potent, powerful, brilliant, emotion-filled, communicative.... just ravishing... then our little band of Presbyterians on state.... and, gosh, they were glorious too! Hugely receptive audience (again!).... but, when Siyaya joined the Senior Choir in singing "Soweto".... well, the house came a'tumbling down! After that, we presented Bongani (their director) with gifts (CD's of hundreds of thousands of songs for reprint + a financial contribution).... THEN, Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus" en masse.... and yes, the audience stood!Anyway, that was today... makes me darned happy to be a member of BMPC.... and that we as a church have a small part to play in transforming lives here in S. Africa.... By the way, Spiwo admonished us to stay involved in W. Philadelphia! YES!!!The best to you from S. Africa.

Breathtaking!

Stunning! And breathtaking only begin to descibe the effect of the Featherbed Nature Reserve. The Featherbed Nature Reserve is directly across from Knysna where the estuary meets the Indian Ocean, on an enormous craggy bluff. Let me describe our visit... First take the ferry across the bay and climb aboard open air vehicles that slowly transport you up the sheer, narrow, hair pin road to the top of the bluff.Look out over the cliffs to sparkling, blue green water and marvel at the spectacular vista. Then hike back down. The path winds its way through dense forest and beautiful shrubs and flowers.It is sometimes slippery and rocky , but very manageable. Our group paused to scramble out on to rocky cliffs to get even better views. At one point, we spotted hump back whales, spouting not far from shore.
The Featherbed Nature Reserve is the remarkable gift of the Wm. Smith family, who chose not to develop this prime location into resort real estate, but preserve it for future generations. It is a very special biome for coastal South African plants and home to the world's smallest antelope and South Africa's national bird, the blue crane, both endangered. In such a unique and magnificent space, it is hard not to feel closer to God.